Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1887-01-15

those who have paid the high license
Of dramshop- keeper, and that drug
gists and merchants should not be al
lowed to sell it in any quantities what
ever, except upon the prescription Of a
reputable physician for medical pur-
poses What are known as "gallon-
houses" should be abolished.
Everyone who desires whisky or ar
dent spirits as beverage, should be
compelled to purchase it at those es-
adjustments which, under our high
license law, are placed under compc-
tent police regulations. In my opinion,
such provision would conduce more to-
ward actual temperance than any other
plan or means enforceable by civil law.
RAILROADS.
That class of common carriers know
as railroad companies, has become SD
numerous, and their services to the
people go necessary, that we cannot
dispense with them. Indeed we can
not allow the operation of the trains
to cease, either by the voluntary action
OF their managers, or by the opposition
offered by others, tor even few days,
because it puts to such great incOnve-
uience and loss the public, IN whose
interest and tor whose benefit their
peculiar organization and construction
was authorized. Twice during the
past two wears, have we experienced
the Inconvenience and loss arising
from this source. The first was in
consequence Of the strike of March,
1885.
During this strike the danger of loss
of life and destruction OF great deal
OF valuable property appeared TO me
SO imminent that / called upon the
state military forces. Happily. the dis
turbances were quelled, and quiet and
good order were restored without re-
sort to actual force, without even
taking the soldiers to the point of
greatest disturbance. The other was
during the strike Of March, 1886. 1t,
100, was settled after several weeks OF
vital cessation OF business with the
attendant Inconvenience and loss to all
parties concerned, without resort to
force. did not even call the state
military to arms. l did, however,
issue proclamation, calling upon the
railway company to resume traffic and
warning all persons against opposing
any obstacle whatever in the way of
such resumption.
In that proclamation 1 stated as
clearly as the limits of such document
permitted, my notions of the relation
of the railways to the public, and the
consequent obligations resting upon
them. The last state democratic con-
vention, as you, g-ntlemen Will re-
member, deemed tue rail- al corpora
ations suHcientl, i'i' ant factor in
our state politics lake especial
mention OF them j.. their platform;
and enunciated what think are sound
principles that ought to obtain in any
legislation upon the subject.
The foregoing sketch plainly proves,
if such proof be Necessary, that not
only should this subject of railway
corporations receive your careful and
earnest attention, because of their very
extensive operations, but also, and
especially, because there is evidently
something radically wrong, from
which wrong the people are liable to
suffer injury. 1t is not right that when
few employees, either officers or
laborers, or both, get to quarrelling
among themselves, they shall put q
stop to public service until they set
tie their petty private strifes, in which
the public have no concern, and which
quarrels are in no important particular
different from the alterations arising
between any other citizens of the
state. They should be made to settle
these strifes among themselves without
involving the business arrangements
of the people. That they should re-
sort to pricticea which actually sndang-
er the peace of the state and the safety
Of the lives and property of her citi.
zens, is not to be tolerated at all. The
duty of devising, and the authority to
provide means Of preventing these
pernicious and dangerous practices
rests with you, gentlemen. | pledge
the chief executive to vigorously exc.
cute all laws to that end.
l call your particular attention to
the following sections of article 12 O
our state constitution: Section Z, pro.
hibiting corporations from engaging
in "Other business than that expressly
authorized in its charter" also section
8, fixing the conditions under which
corporations may issue stock or bonds
aud prohibiting all fictitious increase o
stock; also, and very especially, sec
ton IA, which declare railways to b'
public highways, and the companie
operating them common carriers; i
also directs the general assembly t.
pass the laws to correct abuses ant
prevent unjust discrimination and OK
tortiOn and to fix maximum rates o
charges and "enforce all such laws b,
adequate penalties" also section IL
which prohibits the consolidation O
parallel or competing lines under ont
management; also section %, whicl
prohibits the president and any othe
officers of any railroad company beint
interested directly or indirectly in fur
nishing material or supplies to sucl
company; also section "a, which pro
hibits railroad and other transportation
companies from granting free passes o
. tickets to "members of the general az
sembly" or members of the board o
equalization or any state or county o
, municipal officer.
l also deem worthy of your careful
consideration what the railroad com
missloners say on page of theIl
eleventh annual report about a remedy
for the defects of our present law o
rates. Ii is plainly and indisputabl!
proper and right for the Representatives
OF its people to provide the Legislative
enactments necessary or expedient Il
enforce and execute those laws -aai
principles which the people themselve,
have enacted and declare in their con
stitution. JOHN 8. MARMADUKE.